Marvel Comics

Well, I guess it is about time for me to have another “thought“… This thought was actually provoked by a Facebook friend that asked “Avengers or X-men, which is your favorite team?” on his timeline.

My reply was, “Well, don’t get me wrong… I have a personal like for Thor… I even have used the username Thornore before (say that three times really fast!) … and I like Ironman and Captain America… but I’m going to have to go with the X-men… I like the X-men because of the parallels with real life and kids coming into adolescence. When the body is going through changes and how they can feel alienated and alone. But that it is precisely those changes and differences that make them special and that they should embrace those differences instead of trying to “fit in”. And when they do that, and learn to control and use their “special power” they will become almost unbeatable!”

Needless to say the talk quickly became more playful and there was the underlying “my dad can beat up your dad” tone which of course was all in good fun. However, the talk developed more and there was the explanation that the Avengers appear to be more professional. That they are decisive and confident and therefore appealing… or would “kick butt“! To this I tried to explain that in the X-Men stories there isn’t the whole Good vs. Evil that there is in the Avengers and therefore there is more confusion and uncertainty.

This explanation wasn’t readily accepted and Magneto was accused of being the “bad” guy. Along with the philosophy that actions speak louder than words… if someone does bad things they must be bad and that the “road to hell is paved with good intentions“. The discussion seemed to be tolerated and not completely welcome because it appeared to become more serious when I brought up religious leaders. So, essentially I left it alone after that… but it has been circling the drain in my head ever since. So! I will flush it out here!